A Custom Cue Fitting?

Handsumm

Handsumm

Banned
I am amazed at one particular aspect of our great game, and that is this....

Not very many people get "fitted" for a custom cue. When a pro golfer goes to purchase a new set of clubs, (s)he will get fitted for his particular height, arm length, swing, etc.

My question is why don't more pool players do this? It seems all too obvious that most everyone is a different size, and they will have different requirements for cue length, balance point, shaft thickness, etc.

I am not a very tall person `5'10" or 5'11", but I like a little longer cue than is normal (60" or so) to be comfortable with my stroke. I see a lot of players, even the pros, use a cue that is very apparently too small and they will grip the butt end of their cues.

I believe every person, when purchasing a custom cue, should consider these things before making an expensive purchase.

Anybody else agree/disagree?
 
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I think it was Harvey Martin that, according to the Billiard Encyclopedia, used to watch potential customers play before he made a cue for them.

It is an interesting point that fitting for cues isn't more prominant. All I can come up with is that for as long as people have been playing pool, if fitting the cue to the player was that sensitive, it would be more common. It seems in pool, the player does most of the fine tuning over the shot with his or her body.
In my opinion, players want a certain balance and are seeking feedback from the cue, a certain kind of vibration, not the automatic placement one gets from a particular length of golf club or a custom fitted shotgun.

Having said that, I often wonder if a longer cue would help my game since I am a little taller than most people. I look forward to reading more opinions on this as well.
 
Be patient

belmicah said:
Noone has ANYTHING to say about this? I figured it would be a decent topic.
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What did you expect in 28 minutes?

Seriously though, it's not that you don't have a point about "fitting," I think you're just overlooking the obvious. While most people don't get "fit" for a cue from a professional, like they might when buying a set of golf clubs, I think most poolplayers with any experience (at least enough to be investing in a custom cue) already know what they like and what works best for them. For instance, when I buy a cue -- custom or otherwise -- I decide what weight I want, type of joint, ferrule material, wrap or no wrap, type of wrap, type of tip, shaft diameter, and even length. But I don't need someone else to "fit" me, like I do wth a set of golf clubs (and my golf game still sucks).
 
sjb said:
What did you expect in 28 minutes?

Seriously though, it's not that you don't have a point about "fitting," I think you're just overlooking the obvious. While most people don't get "fit" for a cue from a professional, like they might when buying a set of golf clubs, I think most poolplayers with any experience (at least enough to be investing in a custom cue) already know what they like and what works best for them. For instance, when I buy a cue -- custom or otherwise -- I decide what weight I want, type of joint, ferrule material, wrap or no wrap, type of wrap, type of tip, shaft diameter, and even length. But I don't need someone else to "fit" me, like I do wth a set of golf clubs (and my golf game still sucks).
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Same here, but most people that buy their first custom cue are still very unaware of what they like or what "should" be comfortable to them or will allow them to play more consistently.

A little professional advice, and some trying out different sizes and weights of cues might help make custom cues a little more custom (designed more for a particular person).
 
It may all boil down to the fact that there is no method to fit a pool cue. In golf there are many measureable indicators that can be analysed to determine a 'best fit'. These days an interesting phenomena in golf is ball-fitting where the launch angle and spin rates are measured and then one can intelligently pick a golf ball based on what flight path changes are needed. There is nothing like this for pool cues, other than perhaps measuring the height of a player and saying "you need a shorter cue or taller shoes" (using myself as an example).

jmo,

Dave
 
Just a theory..

In other sports people buy custom equipment almost right off the bat and then learn how to play. Example golf.. You need clubs to go.

In pool, most people pick up a house cue and learn to play. Being that houes cues and most cheaper cues show alot of similarity in terms of length etc.. People learn how to play with them and get comfortable with them, thus not wanting to stray from what they are used too?

I've played with 60 inch cues, and 58's.. Currently i play with a 58 and I'm 6'0. When I developed my f'd up mechanics, I developed them to the equipment I was playing with, not the other way around. Had I been fitted for a cue and got a 60 - 61 inch cue made right from the get go, I'd probably play differntly, have different mechanics, and grab the butt end of anything shorter.

DJ
 
well i think one of the main reasons would be the sheer logistics. Every cuemaker you wanted a cue from, youd have to drive or fly there so he could "fit" you. Plus.....who knows exactly how to "fit" a cue to someone? I mean, you know what you like, what weight you like, what joint, etc. Really the only thing to tinker with is the length.......if you think youd like a longer cue get one, or get a longer shaft and use it on a cue you have. I just dont see how it would ever be feasible to travel to a cuemaker to try and hash out the proper cue....the only person who can tell if the cue is right for them is probably yourself, other than the extreme cases of someone very tall or short. I think the only thing you can do is what most people do............try shooting with every cue they can get thier hands on until they find one they like and buy it, or get the cuemaker who made that one to make you one.
 
belmicah said:
Same here, but most people that buy their first custom cue are still very unaware of what they like or what "should" be comfortable to them or will allow them to play more consistently.

A little professional advice, and some trying out different sizes and weights of cues might help make custom cues a little more custom (designed more for a particular person).
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I build custom cues. I have customers who know EXACTLY what they want and give me their specifications. I also have customers who I talk to (sometimes for a couple hours) to find out how they play, what they play, problems they have, etc before I build their cue. Things I may change or we agree need to be specific are butt size, shaft weight, balance point a little different, joint and tip, etc - all to custom fit them. I have played a long time with cues from house cues to Szambotis so I feel I give that "little professional advice". And to some of my customers, several who are AZB'rs, I give a "little advice" on their game.
 
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Jack Madden said:
I build custom cues. I have customers who know EXACTLY what they want and give me their specifications. I also have customers who I talk to (sometimes for a couple hours) to find out how they play, what they play, problems they have, etc before I build their cue. Things I may change or we agree need to be specific are butt size, shaft weight, balance point a little different, joint and tip, etc - all to custom fit them. I have played a long time with cues from house cues to Szambotis so I feel I give that "little professional advice". And to some of my customers, several who are AZB'rs, I give a "little advice" on their game.
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You should be the reference point for what to do for having a new cue built for yourself.

This is pretty much what I was referring to as a "fitting." Just simply getting the right cue for you and your playing style. But, as I stated previously, some people don't know what is right for them, so.... to get help from a knowledgeable person is very important.
 
belmicah said:
I am amazed at one particular aspect of our great game, and that is this....

Not very many people get "fitted" for a custom cue. When a pro golfer goes to purchase a new set of clubs, (s)he will get fitted for his particular height, arm length, swing, etc.

My question is why don't more pool players do this? It seems all too obvious that most everyone is a different size, and they will have different requirements for cue length, balance point, shaft thickness, etc.

I am not a very tall person `5'10" or 5'11", but I like a little longer cue than is normal (60" or so) to be comfortable with my stroke. I see a lot of players, even the pros, use a cue that is very apparently too small and they will grip the butt end of their cues.

I believe every person, when purchasing a custom cue, should consider these things before making an expensive purchase.

Anybody else agree/disagree?
Click to expand...

I agree. Ping revolutionized the golf industry by creating standards for length, lie (angle of clubhead lower edge to shaft), and grip thickness, and a way of measuring for "fitting" clubs to the golfer. Some of this was marketing strategy, but still, it was and is enormously successful.

Pool cues have length, shaft taper, shaft thickness, butt thickness, weight, and balance, with almost no information as to who needs what. I have learned some interesting things about cues and performance. If I had the time, I would study this more myself.

Chris
 
belmicah said:
You should be the reference point for what to do for having a new cue built for yourself.

This is pretty much what I was referring to as a "fitting." Just simply getting the right cue for you and your playing style. But, as I stated previously, some people don't know what is right for them, so.... to get help from a knowledgeable person is very important.
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I see you are from Vancouver. Within the next couple months, you will probably see three John Madden cues at your local room or bar. They are very simple but you will notice them due to the wood combinations. Ask Mike and Sharon how we did their "fittings" since they are all over.
 
TATE said:
I agree. Ping revolutionized the golf industry by creating standards for length, lie (angle of clubhead lower edge to shaft), and grip thickness, and a way of measuring for "fitting" clubs to the golfer. Some of this was marketing strategy, but still, it was and is enormously successful.

Pool cues have length, shaft taper, shaft thickness, butt thickness, weight, and balance, with almost no information as to who needs what. I have learned some interesting things about cues and performance. If I had the time, I would study this more myself.

Chris
Click to expand...
Chris
Ping does a good job. Bought Pings many many years ago - their shop (in Arizona) is 1/2 mile from where I worked. Well bodies change (you know - that "old" stuff), so I decided it was time for a change. The "fitting" was very interesting for me - wife insisted "if you find out how your customers play then you need to have practice what you preach and have them fit you for new clubs" - now have a custom ("not standard" specs) set of Pings to last me the rest of my life - golfed with them once - very happy and can't wait for the weather to warm up.
 
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